Hawkeyes Fall in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Dec. 4, 2014

By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Chalk this one up as a learning experience.

The 19th-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team went on the road for the first time this season and came away with an 86-52 loss at No. 7 Louisville in front of 7,854 inside the KFC Yum! Center as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The Hawkeyes fell to 6-2 overall, while Louisville remains undefeated in eight games. The Cardinals ended Iowa’s season a year ago, 83-53, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

1st 2nd Final No. 19 Iowa (6-2) 23 29 52 No. 7 Louisville (8-0) 46 40 86 ? Box Score | Attendance: 7,854 Statistical Leaders ? Bethany Doolittle — 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blks ? Ally Disterhoft — 9 points, 8 rebounds ? Samantha Logic — 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists Stats at a Glance IOWA LOU FG Percentage 30.4 53.0 3-Point FG Percentage 5.9 25.0 FT Percentage 52.9 63.6 Total Rebounds 38 50 Points in the Paint 32 58 Points off Turnovers 11 21

“Try to learn from it, you have to,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “There is a lot of season left, a lot of games left, this game is worth it if it helps us be better in March. I think we will learn for it. We have good kids and we have smart kids and they’ll bounce back.”

Senior center Bethany Doolittle led the Hawkeyes with 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocked shots. Her first made field goal came off an assist from Ally Disterhoft, 69 seconds into the game. That tied the score, 2-2, but Louisville led the rest of the way.

Although Iowa was out-rebounded, 50-38, the Hawkeyes did snare 17 offensive rebounds — five by senior Samantha Logic and four apiece by Disterhoft and Doolittle.

Disterhoft scored nine points with eight boards; Logic had eight points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore Alexa Kastanek and freshman Christina Buttenham made the most of their minutes. Kastanek played 13 minutes and scored eight points, Buttenham scored six points in 12 minutes.

Iowa shot a season-low 30.4 percent from the field (21-of-69) and made just 1-of-17 3-point field goals. The Hawkeyes were 9-of-17 from the free throw line.

“Shots just weren’t falling for us,” Bluder said. “We weren’t making layups, we weren’t making free throws — we’re a good free throw shooting team and we couldn’t even make free throws tonight. That’s obviously disappointing.”

Iowa plays its next two games on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena beginning with Colorado on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. (CT). The Hawkeyes host Iowa State on Dec. 11.

“It’s another day tomorrow and we play Colorado on Sunday,” Bluder said.

Colorado is 5-1; the Buffalos host San Jose State on Friday.